Day 2 - Cheryl Crow, OTR/L - The Acceptance Paradox: How I Stopped Fighting Chronic Illness & Started Thriving WITH it

When living with a chronic autoimmune condition, we are often told to "fight" it or "conquer" it to live a full life. But what if, instead, we learned to truly thrive with our conditions by riding the waves of uncertainty with more grace?In this transformative session, occupational therapist and rheumatoid arthritis patient Cheryl Crow introduces "The Acceptance Paradox." She explains how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helped her stop fighting the unsolvable parts of chronic illness and start thriving alongside them. You'll learn the difference between "acceptance" and "resignation," explore powerful metaphors like the "passengers on the bus," and discover how allowing for the present moment—even when it's uncomfortable—can free up your energy to live a more meaningful life.Tune in to change your relationship with the idea of acceptance and discover what's still possible in your life, even with Sjogren's.SESSION IN A GLANCE00:00 The Challenge of Acceptance03:11 The Hero's Journey vs. The Reality of Chronic Illness06:31 The "Fixing" vs. "Thriving" Methods08:09 The Truth Will Set You Free (But First...)11:20 The Acceptance Paradox: Feeling Better by Allowing Unhappiness13:42 Correcting Myths About Acceptance15:35 Metaphors for ACT: The Finger Trap & The Passengers on the Bus19:07 The Final Boss: Accepting Uncertainty21:57 Feeling Better vs. "Feeling" BetterABOUT CHERYL CROW, OTR/LCheryl Crow is a passionate advocate for addressing the full spectrum of needs for people with rheumatic diseases—far beyond just joint pain. Having lived with rheumatoid arthritis for over two decades, she became an occupational therapist and founded Arthritis Life to educate, empower, and support others navigating life with arthritis. Known for her engaging content, she is the host of the Arthritis Life Podcast and leads Rheum to THRIVE, an online self-management course and support group where she helps people build meaningful, fulfilling lives.CONNECT WITH CHERYL CROWYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDEZnSHMkC5FJ6enOwHsRKgInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/arthritis_life_cheryl/TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritislifeSLIDES -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HLuxiwErS5NUQ2zA6NuK20idra0tIrM5/view?usp=drive_linkABOUT THE VIRTUAL SJOGREN'S SUMMITThe Virtual Sjögren's Summit is an annual patient-led online event dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education and fostering a supportive global community for everyone touched by Sjögren's. Our mission is to build networks of support, knowledge, and hope.